LAGOS – The Citizens Forum for Transparency and Integrity (CFTI) has expressed alarm over what it describes as a “coordinated and sinister plot.” The group alleges a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is collaborating with opposition leaders and other political figures to destabilize President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration before the 2027 elections.
In a statement released in Lagos on Monday, the group claimed that the individual recently convened with prominent opposition figures in London. Discussions reportedly centered on leveraging his past connections within the EFCC to target four current ministers serving in Tinubu’s cabinet.
According to the CFTI, the alleged plan is part of a wider effort to damage the government’s reputation and erode public trust in advance of the next election cycle.
“We have credible information indicating that the former head, still harboring resentment over his removal from office, has embarked on a new political endeavor: to collaborate with the opposition in portraying this administration as corrupt and compromised,” the statement read.
The group expressed deep concern that the opposition intends to utilize state institutions to initiate politically motivated investigations against high-ranking officials within the federal government.
“Based on the intelligence available to us, we can confirm that four ministers have been specifically selected for this smear campaign,” stated Alhaji Aminu Mustapha Gidado, President of CFTI.
“Three of them are former governors — David Umahi, Atiku Bagudu, and Bello Matawalle — while the fourth, Festus Keyamo, previously served as a minister under the Buhari administration and now holds a strategic position in Tinubu’s cabinet as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.”
Gidado further claimed that in exchange for his involvement, Bawa has been promised a return to public service as National Adviser on Anti-Corruption. This proposed position would oversee the EFCC, ICPC, and the Code of Conduct Bureau if the opposition is successful in 2027.
“We find it extremely dangerous that a man who once occupied such a sensitive position is now being positioned as a political tool in the hands of those desperate to hijack power,” Gidado said.
The forum called on security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), to investigate the London meeting and monitor all clandestine activities. The aim is to prevent the weaponization of anti-corruption institutions for political purposes.
“This is not merely a political issue; it’s about safeguarding our democratic institutions from manipulation and abuse. Bawa may no longer be in office, but his network persists within the system. We cannot allow such an infrastructure to be used against loyal public servants whose only fault is their commitment to the current government,” the statement noted.
CFTI also cautioned that the increasing desperation within the opposition suggests the 2027 elections could be marred by orchestrated blackmail, character assassination, and institutional sabotage if immediate measures are not taken.
“We are witnessing a dangerous scenario unfold. The opposition is not preparing for elections; they are preparing for subversion. They recognize they cannot win at the ballot box, so they are attempting to undermine from within,” Gidado stated.
He added that President Tinubu’s cabinet has, despite facing challenges, made substantial progress in stabilizing key sectors and attracting foreign investments. These achievements, he said, some politicians are determined to obstruct for their own gain.
“Isn’t it peculiar that the very ministers spearheading reforms in infrastructure, industrial policy, defense, and aviation are the ones being targeted? This is not coincidental; it’s a pattern of sabotage,” he added.
The group urged Nigerians to remain alert and to reject any narratives aimed at eroding confidence in public institutions or hindering the government’s progress.
“This nation belongs to all of us, and no individual, including a former EFCC chairman, should be permitted to transform anti-graft agencies into instruments of political warfare. We owe our democracy more than that,” Gidado said.
“We are citizens with no political affiliation. Our only loyalty is to truth, justice, and national stability. And we will not hesitate to speak out against those plotting in the shadows.”
CFTI concluded by affirming its commitment to continually monitor political developments and expose any conspiracies against the current administration or the democratic order.
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